Some News is Good News

Wow. That escalated quickly.

Some news is good. Some news is bad.

I've been practicing talking myself into believing it was McCourty – it was always McCourty – who was the most important player for the Patriots to keep. Belichick and Patricia will figure it out. They can sign six or seven guys with that money. As for keeping Darrelle Revis, they never had a chance ("I'm happy to be home. I never wanted to leave."). So much for the what might have beens. The sooner we move on, the better.

Yes, it hurts that it's that it's the Jets, but that's largely circumstantial. The Jets still have to hope Mariota falls to #6 and that's only so they can be good in 2016. Aren't they still a 6-10-0 team, even with Revis? Tom Brady and the Patriots just beat a defense much better than the Jets' defense, a defense with Richard Sherman locking down half the field. So, fellow citizens of Patriots Nation, tip your cap and move on. Thanks for the ring, man…

There's a team to be built here!

In Bill We Trust

Let's not forget they re-signed McCourty. He'll be the best free safety in the NFL for the next three to five years. They still have a young corps on defense to build game plans around with Chandler Jones, Dont'a Hightower, Jamie Collins. Let's hope Jerod Mayo isn't done, Dominique Easley pays off that 1st round draft pick, Logan Ryan returns to first year form and Malcolm Butler isn't a one-hit wonder.

So far, the Patriots have lost ST/LB Jonathan Casillas and RB Shane Vereen (another guy they were never going to keep). They've tendered FB James Develin, DT Sealver Siliga and LB James Morris. They've added WR Brandon Gibson, formerly of the Miami Dolphins. Also formerly of the St. Louis Rams where he crossed paths with then Rams' OC Josh McDaniels. Clearly, New England knows what it's getting in Gibson, even if we don't.

Everybody with me now, "Amendola's gone if he doesn't re-work his deal!"

They've had DE Jabaal Sheard in for a visit.

I've already been hearing that with Revis gone, Brandon Browner won't be re-signed either. Without Revis the Patriots D will abandon press-man and play more zone concepts. Browner doesn't fit the profile. And he does seem to draw a whole lot of penalties.

Hey, so Tom Brady! Am I right?

Moving on...

Look to the East

Okay, so the Jets are much improved. They were good on defense last year and Revis (and Buster Skrine) patches one of the few holes they had on that side of the line of scrimmage. Picking up Brandon Marshall should help on offense. There is that pesky question mark at quarterback, though. Hey, maybe Geno Smith has figured it out. Maybe Marcus Mariota does fall to them at #6. I'm still penciling the Jets into 4th place in the AFC East.

The Dolphins have Ndamukong Suh and an Ndamukong Suh-sized hole in their salary cap.

The Bills are still the team with the best chance for a second playoff spot from the AFC East. Rex has the running back for his ground and pound offense in LeSean McCoy, he kept DE Jerry Hughes and brought in Matt Cassel in at QB to hand the ball to McCoy and throw the ball to Sammy Watkins. 

The Clown Car of the NFL
What's the deal with Chip Kelly? I sort of get trading LeSean McCoy and his $10m cap hit. That sort of made sense when everyone thought Frank Gore was taking his talents to Philadelphia. (I don't know if Stephen A. Smith scared Gore off or what.) Now it's rumored Philadelphia and DeMarco Murray have "mutual interest" (get a room!). Murray won't be cheaper than McCoy, will he? More importantly, Kelly just traded for QB Sam "Heart (and Bones) of Glass" Bradford for his read-option offense? He didn't just eat Bradford's extra large contract to back up Mark Sanchez did he?

Seriously, what's the deal with Chip Kelly?

Russell Wilson Needs Weapons!
And apparently, Drew Brees doesn't. The Saints traded WR Jimmy Graham (sorry, he's not a TE; I've seen a TE) to the Seattle Seahawks. Next time, instead of a slant to Ricardo Lockette, Wilson can throw a fade to Graham.

At the moment, the Seahawks look like a better bet to return to the Super Bowl than the Patriots. Graham will be a huge add for the Seahawks offense and Cary Williams should be as good opposite Richard Sherman as Byron Maxwell. Yes, Nick Foles is an upgrade at QB for the Rams and Carson Palmer hasn't blown his knee out again (yet) but the 49ers have strapped C2 to their chests and fallen to their knees as they tearfully implore everyone to get out of the building before it's too late.

I know it's early but yeah, the Seahawks will be heading back to the Super Bowl.

And no, I'm not sure how they're going to do it but I still believe the Patriots will be there, too.

Because like I said, Brady.